Best No Pull Leash?

magnusfide wrote:
NOTE about Gentle Leader: it does not work on dogs with a short snout as this one has. His dog is a Border Terrier Mix. He's already tried it (he didn't know about the disclaimer) and the dog had it off within 30 seconds.

Thanks all: I'm sending my friend a link to this thread.

This is why there are so many different tools out there - dogs are different.

Call your local shelter, pet store, vet's office, etc. Ask them for help with training. Look for AKC breeders in the area and ask them for help.

If they say they don't know of any training in the area, tell them you're looking for someone who could walk you through the basic training program once or twice so you can see how it should be done and then you can continue on your own. Offer to pay for their time or donate to the shelter.

There are knowledgeable dog people everywhere and most are willing to help if asked.

rockhillmanor wrote:

4aSong wrote:
I'm sure there will be arguments on this subject but a dog properly trained will not pull.

No arguments here either.

TRAIN the dog. IMHO putting apparatuses like a strap across their face is ludicrous and inhumane......all because an owner won't take the time to train a dog. :(

Simple training tip for at home that WILL show you just how smart your dog is. I have yet to come across a dog that this has not worked.

Put a choke collar on, 6 foot leash.
Pick two points fairly far apart in your back yard.

Start walking 'briskly' to the first point. When you get there just 'abruptly' turn around and walk to the second point. And repeat, repeat, repeat.

All the time DISREGARDING what the dog is doing. Do NOT look at them, do NOT talk to them just keep walking. The first time or so they most likely will run ahead of you or lag behind, out to the side, etc. Do not do anything about it, just keep walking back and forth.

I will guarantee you that in less than 4 times going back and forth to these points your dog WILL be at your side.

Most likely thinking you have gone crazy! But more importantly staying by your side watching you, to see what you are going to do next so he doesn't get yanked around. Interestingly 'his' decision. No straps around his face, armpits etc. needed.

Dogs are not stupid. They know where it is the most comfortable to be and after a few times will figure it out that, next to you, watching you, is the sweet spot on a lead.

Do that for a week every night and you will have a dog that doesn't pull on lead. If he forgets when you are out walking all you have to do is abruptly turn around and go in the opposite direction and just watch how fast he goes to catch up to you to where he should be! :C

Please don't do this without training. This is a tool to be used WITH obedience training, not the obedience training. You do need to talk to your dog and give it encouragement to walk with you, you need to give your dog commands so the dog understands what you want before you "punish" it with the jerk. Many dogs will never need to be jerked if you put the effort into training them.

Again, it's about giving your dog signals and signs so they know what you want of them and letting them learn what those signals and signs mean.

You can slap your child's hand every time he gets a wrong answer - or you can help him understand how to get the right answer - both will stop him from giving the wrong answer, only one will teach him how to figure out the right answer.

No disrespect meant Rockhillmanor. But you have a strong dog training background and know how to do the above without hurting the dog (physically or mentally); people reading this thread may have no clue and could cause serious injury to their dog trying this without obedience knowledge behind them.

NOTE about Gentle Leader: it does not work on dogs with a short snout as this one has. His dog is a Border Terrier Mix. He's already tried it (he didn't know about the disclaimer) and the dog had it off within 30 seconds.

Thanks all: I'm sending my friend a link to this thread.

4aSong wrote:
I'm sure there will be arguments on this subject but a dog properly trained will not pull.

No arguments here either.

TRAIN the dog. IMHO putting apparatuses like a strap across their face is ludicrous and inhumane......all because an owner won't take the time to train a dog. :(

Simple training tip for at home that WILL show you just how smart your dog is. I have yet to come across a dog that this has not worked.

Put a choke collar on, 6 foot leash.
Pick two points fairly far apart in your back yard.

Start walking 'briskly' to the first point. When you get there just 'abruptly' turn around and walk to the second point. And repeat, repeat, repeat.

All the time DISREGARDING what the dog is doing. Do NOT look at them, do NOT talk to them just keep walking. The first time or so they most likely will run ahead of you or lag behind, out to the side, etc. Do not do anything about it, just keep walking back and forth.

I will guarantee you that in less than 4 times going back and forth to these points your dog WILL be at your side.

Most likely thinking you have gone crazy! But more importantly staying by your side watching you, to see what you are going to do next so he doesn't get yanked around. Interestingly 'his' decision. No straps around his face, armpits etc. needed.

Dogs are not stupid. They know where it is the most comfortable to be and after a few times will figure it out that, next to you, watching you, is the sweet spot on a lead.

Do that for a week every night and you will have a dog that doesn't pull on lead. If he forgets when you are out walking all you have to do is abruptly turn around and go in the opposite direction and just watch how fast he goes to catch up to you to where he should be! :C

toedtoes wrote:

dturm wrote:

4aSong wrote:
I'm sure there will be arguments on this subject but a dog properly trained will not pull.

No arguments, but there is a HUGE difference in how trainable individuals and certain breed are. It is great to get ideas on aids in training that others have found useful.

Most veterinary behaviorists recommend Halti type or the type that compress the chest or pull on the axilla (arm pits) like the sporn does. There are lots of good ones out there.

Doug, DVM

I agree. However, none of these tools will work WITHOUT TRAINING. As the OP's friend does not seem to be able to access training, these tools will be ineffectual at best, dangerous at worst.

Just putting any one of the collars mentioned so far (or any not yet mentioned) on the dog will not stop it from pulling, etc. They are ALL meant to be used IN CONJUNCTION with TRAINING in order to be effective.

The truth is that dogs will adjust to whatever discomfort the collar causes because they don't know how to stop it. They think it's just part of the deal so they continue on blindly.

Without training, the dog is thinking:

"you know when I'm out walking sometimes my nose gets yanked down or to the side - weird" - haltis without training

"you know when I'm out walking I start choking - weird" - choke chains and flat collars without training

"you know when I'm out walking I feel like there are sharp things poking in my neck - weird" - prong collars without training

With training, the dog learns that those things only happen when it doesn't follow procedure. Now the dog can use those sensations to remind it not to do that. Pull down on the nose, tightening of the collar, etc. - "oh yeah, I need to walk next to Smelly" "oh yeah, I'm not supposed to chase after the squirrel".

X2
Slack line/ walks out/ pop chocker

I'll put another vote in for the Gentle Leader. Very popular around here and is recommended by vets and trainers. Only downside is it may take the dog a while to get used to having it on and you don't leave it on.

Personally I have always used a choke chain with our boxers. They are a little "old school" but it's what I'm used to. In order for them to work though, they have to be in the proper place. High on the neck behind the ears is the only way they will feel it. If it sits low it will be on their shoulders and ineffective.

Whatever you do, don't use those retractable leashes. They confuse the dogs since they never know if they can run or if they should heal.

dturm wrote:

4aSong wrote:
I'm sure there will be arguments on this subject but a dog properly trained will not pull.

No arguments, but there is a HUGE difference in how trainable individuals and certain breed are. It is great to get ideas on aids in training that others have found useful.

Most veterinary behaviorists recommend Halti type or the type that compress the chest or pull on the axilla (arm pits) like the sporn does. There are lots of good ones out there.

Doug, DVM

I agree. However, none of these tools will work WITHOUT TRAINING. As the OP's friend does not seem to be able to access training, these tools will be ineffectual at best, dangerous at worst.

Just putting any one of the collars mentioned so far (or any not yet mentioned) on the dog will not stop it from pulling, etc. They are ALL meant to be used IN CONJUNCTION with TRAINING in order to be effective.

The truth is that dogs will adjust to whatever discomfort the collar causes because they don't know how to stop it. They think it's just part of the deal so they continue on blindly.

Without training, the dog is thinking:

"you know when I'm out walking sometimes my nose gets yanked down or to the side - weird" - haltis without training

"you know when I'm out walking I start choking - weird" - choke chains and flat collars without training

"you know when I'm out walking I feel like there are sharp things poking in my neck - weird" - prong collars without training

With training, the dog learns that those things only happen when it doesn't follow procedure. Now the dog can use those sensations to remind it not to do that. Pull down on the nose, tightening of the collar, etc. - "oh yeah, I need to walk next to Smelly" "oh yeah, I'm not supposed to chase after the squirrel".

The Weiss Walkie is based on a leash trick that most older dog trainers have used for decades. It's easy to do it with a regular six foot leash. No special purchase required.

With the leash attached to a collar, run it down the dog's back. You can go to just behind the front legs or a little further back (but assuming it's a male dog keep it in front of the *****). Holding the portion of the leash laying along the dog's back in place, take the loose end and loop it under the dog, up the other side and under the part of the leash you're holding on the dog's back. Instant Weiss Walkie.

I don't like Halti's and Gentle Leaders. Too many people use them incorrectly. I've seen way too many dogs' heads jerked around roughly when they hit the end of the leash. And no offense to your friend, but since he seems to think a "choke" collar is a no-pull collar (it isn't, it's a training collar) then I would be wary of his ability to use a head halter correctly.

Another option may be a prong collar. They look like torture devices but they're much less likely to hurt a dog than some of the other no pull devices. They're pretty much idiot proof.

4aSong wrote:
I'm sure there will be arguments on this subject but a dog properly trained will not pull.

No arguments, but there is a HUGE difference in how trainable individuals and certain breed are. It is great to get ideas on aids in training that others have found useful.

Most veterinary behaviorists recommend Halti type or the type that compress the chest or pull on the axilla (arm pits) like the sporn does. There are lots of good ones out there.

Doug, DVM

I'm sure there will be arguments on this subject but a dog properly trained will not pull.